The Way the Trial of an Army Veteran Over Bloody Sunday Ended in Acquittal

Protesters in a tense situation with British soldiers on Bloody Sunday
Youths in a confrontation with British soldiers on Bloody Sunday

Sunday 30 January 1972 remains arguably the deadliest – and consequential – occasions throughout multiple decades of conflict in the region.

In the streets of the incident – the memories of that fateful day are visible on the buildings and seared in public consciousness.

A civil rights march was held on a wintry, sunny period in Londonderry.

The demonstration was opposing the policy of internment – detaining individuals without trial – which had been established in response to three years of unrest.

Fr Edward Daly used a bloodied fabric while attempting to protect a group transporting a young man, the injured teenager
Fr Edward Daly waved a white cloth stained with blood in an effort to protect a group transporting a teenager, the fatally wounded youth

Military personnel from the specialized division killed 13 people in the Bogside area – which was, and still is, a strongly nationalist area.

A specific visual became especially iconic.

Pictures showed a clergyman, Fr Edward Daly, waving a stained with blood fabric as he tried to defend a group carrying a teenager, Jackie Duddy, who had been mortally injured.

Media personnel documented much footage on the day.

The archive includes the priest telling a journalist that troops "just seemed to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "completely sure" that there was no provocation for the shooting.

Individuals in the district being marched towards custody by military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Civilians in the neighborhood being taken to arrest by British troops on Bloody Sunday

This account of what happened wasn't accepted by the initial investigation.

The first investigation concluded the Army had been fired upon initially.

Throughout the negotiation period, the ruling party established a new investigation, following pressure by family members, who said the first investigation had been a inadequate investigation.

That year, the conclusion by the inquiry said that overall, the military personnel had discharged weapons initially and that not one of the casualties had been armed.

The contemporary government leader, David Cameron, issued an apology in the Parliament – stating killings were "without justification and inexcusable."

Families of the victims of the Bloody Sunday shootings process from the district of Londonderry to the civic building carrying pictures of their relatives
Kin of the deceased of the 1972 incident fatalities walk from the Bogside area of Derry to the civic building carrying pictures of their loved ones

Law enforcement started to investigate the incident.

An ex-soldier, identified as Soldier F, was brought to trial for killing.

Indictments were filed over the killings of the first individual, in his twenties, and twenty-six-year-old the second individual.

The accused was additionally charged of seeking to harm Patrick O'Donnell, other civilians, Joe Mahon, another person, and an unidentified individual.

There is a court ruling preserving the defendant's identity protection, which his lawyers have claimed is required because he is at risk of attack.

He stated to the examination that he had only fired at individuals who were armed.

This assertion was rejected in the final report.

Evidence from the inquiry was unable to be used straightforwardly as proof in the court case.

In the dock, the defendant was shielded from sight with a protective barrier.

He made statements for the initial occasion in the hearing at a proceeding in December 2024, to reply "innocent" when the allegations were read.

Family members and supporters of those killed on that day display a sign and photographs of the deceased
Kin and supporters of the victims on Bloody Sunday carry a sign and photographs of the deceased

Family members of the deceased on Bloody Sunday travelled from Londonderry to the courthouse every day of the case.

One relative, whose sibling was fatally wounded, said they always knew that hearing the trial would be painful.

"I can see everything in my mind's eye," John said, as we walked around the main locations referenced in the case – from the location, where Michael was killed, to the adjacent Glenfada Park, where one victim and the second person were fatally wounded.

"It reminds me to where I was that day.

"I participated in moving Michael and place him in the medical transport.

"I relived each detail during the proceedings.

"Despite experiencing all that – it's still valuable for me."

One victim (left) and Another victim (right) were among those who were fatally wounded on the incident
Anne Quinn
Anne Quinn

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